(a) 
Created.
There is hereby established within the city an office of electrical inspection, which shall be under the supervision of the building official.
(b) 
Appointment of electrical inspectors.
The building official may appoint electrical inspectors and may designate a chief electrical inspector with such powers of supervision and control over the office of electrical inspection as he may prescribe. Where the term “building official” is used herein, it shall mean either the building official or his duly authorized representative.
(c) 
Duties.
It shall be the duty of the building official to enforce the provisions of this code, either individually or acting by and through his duly authorized representatives. He shall be responsible for making inspections, issuing licenses and permits, administering examinations, and performing all the other functions of the office of electrical inspections, as prescribed in this code or by administrative order. He shall keep complete records of all permits issued, inspections made, and other official work performed in accordance with the provisions of this code. He shall also keep on file in the office of electrical inspection a list of acceptable testing laboratories, which shall be accessible for public reference during regular office hours.
(d) 
Restrictions on business interests of building official and inspectors.
It shall be unlawful for any person, while holding the office of building official or electrical inspector, to engage either directly or indirectly in the business of the sale, design, installation or maintenance of electrical equipment or have a financial interest of any nature in any concern engaged in such business in the city.
(e) 
Authority.
(1) 
Inspections; disconnection of electric service.
Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this code, or whenever the building official or his authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises a violation of this code, the building official or such representative may enter such building at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed by this code; provided that, if such building or premises be occupied, he shall first present proper credentials and demand entry; and, if such building or premises be unoccupied, he shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and demand entry. If such entry is refused or if the owner or other person having charge or control of the building is not located, the building official or electrical inspector shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry. When any electrical equipment is found by the electrical inspector to be dangerous to persons or property, the person, firm or corporation responsible for the electrical equipment shall be notified and shall make any changes or repairs which are required to make such equipment in safe condition, and, if such work is not completed within fifteen (15) days or any longer period than may be specified in said notice, the building official shall have the authority to disconnect or order the electricity supply agency to disconnect all electric service to said electrical equipment and/or the premises in or upon which the same is located.
(2) 
Disconnection of equipment.
In case of emergency, where necessary for safety to persons or property, or where electrical equipment may interfere with the work of the fire department, the building official shall have the authority to disconnect immediately and without notice to anyone, or to cause the immediate disconnection of, any electrical equipment.
(3) 
Stop orders.
Whenever any work is being done contrary to the provisions of this code, the building official may order the work stopped by notice in writing served on any persons engaged in doing or causing such work to be done, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the building official to proceed with the work, or an appeal perfected pursuant to article 3.02 of this chapter has resulted in a waiver of the condition causing the stop order or a finding that there is no cause for a stop order. Failure to stop such work, in addition to penalties and remedies elsewhere set forth, shall void any appeal.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-80; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
No electrical equipment shall be installed, nor shall any alteration or addition be made to existing equipment in or on any building, structure, or premises in the city, whether such be publicly or privately owned, unless a permit shall first be obtained from the office of electrical inspection authorizing such installation, alteration or addition.
(b) 
No permit shall be required for constructing, installing, altering, extending, maintaining, repairing, or replacing any electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment of any voltage of twenty-four (24) volts or less. Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.
(c) 
The provisions of this division shall not apply to equipment owned and used by an electricity supply company or communications agency in the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity or for the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence.
(d) 
A separate permit shall be required for each separate building, store space or apartment, whether such unit is metered separately or conjunctively, and a service permit shall be taken on all such units whether supplied from a central metering station or directly from an electricity supply agency, except that, in trailer courts, the individual trailer disconnect switches shall not be deemed services; fees for such service permits shall be as prescribed in this division.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-88)
(a) 
Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, application for such permits, with a description of the work to be done, shall be made in writing to the office of electrical inspection by the electrician properly licensed to perform the work. With each application for an electrical permit and when required by the building official for enforcement of any provisions of this code, two sets of plans and specifications [shall be submitted], to be prepared and designed by an engineer licensed by the state to practice as such, and his professional seal affixed to the documents.
(b) 
Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper or cloth and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed, and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall give the house and street address of the work and the name and address of the owner and person who prepared them. Plans shall include a plot plan showing the location of the proposed building and of every existing building on the property. In lieu of detailed specifications, the building official may approve references on the plans to a specific section or part of this code or other ordinances or laws.
(c) 
Payment of all permit and inspection fees required in this code shall be made prior to the inspection required in section 3.07.005 hereof.
(d) 
The building official may make and issue in writing such regulations in connection with the filing of applications for permit by telephone as he may deem necessary for the collection of fees and the proper enforcement of this code.
(e) 
The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans and specifications shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any other ordinance of this jurisdiction. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code shall be valid. The issuance of a permit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the building official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications and other data, or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code or of any other ordinances of this jurisdiction.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-89; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Starting work without obtaining permit.
In any case where a registrant allows the commencing of work requiring any permit and said registrant does not first make application for such permits as may be necessary, the fees therefor shall be doubled.
(b) 
Fee schedule.
The permit fee for installation of electrical equipment in all buildings and the permit for alterations of electrical equipment in any building shall be at the rate as adopted from time to time by resolution of the city council.
(c) 
Reinspections.
A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete, or when corrections called for are not made, or for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested. In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.
(d) 
Refunds.
There shall be no refund of building permit fees except as provided herein:
(1) 
Limitation of time.
An application for which no permit is issued within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date of application shall expire by limitation of time, and plans submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the building official. The building official may extend the time for action on the application upon request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken. An expired application may only be reactivated as a new application, including plans and fees. Fees paid prior to expiration, in excess of the plan review fee, may be refunded by the building official, on receiving the applicant’s written request not later than ninety (90) days after expiration. An applicant’s written request for voluntary withdrawal of the application shall be deemed to be expiration of the application.
(2) 
No work commenced.
When the permit has been issued and no part of the work has commenced, the refund shall be reduced by the amount of the plan review fee.
(3) 
Permit issued in error.
When the permit has been issued through error on the part of the city and it is found that the work applied for cannot be allowed, the refund shall be made in full.
(4) 
Disallowed permit.
For items not requiring a plan review fee, the building official may authorize full or partial refund of fee payment. When subsequent examination shows an item to not be allowed as requested and the building official has determined that the city is not in error in initially receiving payment, full refund shall be made, less an administrative assessment as set by the city council from time to time by resolution, upon request by the applicant received by the building official not more than ninety (90) days following notification of disallowance of the item. For a revision to a previously paid item, an administrative assessment as set by the city council from time to time by resolution will be made and any excess payment refunded, subject to the provisions described above. If payment was received through error on the part of the city, no administrative cost will be assessed and refund will be made automatically.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-90)
Upon the completion of any installation of electrical equipment for which a permit has been obtained and upon the payment to the city of the fees required for such installation, it shall be the duty of the licensed electrician making the installation to notify the office of electrical inspection of said completion. The building official shall inspect the installation within forty-eight (48) hours after such notification, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-91)
(a) 
The issuance of a notice of conformance shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any other ordinance of this jurisdiction. No notice of conformance presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code shall be valid.
(b) 
The issuance of a notice of conformance shall not prevent the building official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said installations, or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code or of any other ordinance of this jurisdiction.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-92)
When a certificate of approval is issued authorizing the connection and use of a temporary installation, such certificate shall be issued to expire at a time to be stated therein, and shall be revocable by the building official for good cause. No occupancy of any structure may occur, however, prior to the issuance of a notice of conformance for the premises or the equipment upon said premises.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-93)
When any electrical equipment is to be hidden from view by the permanent placement of parts of the building and/or equipment, the licensed electrician installing the equipment shall notify the office of electrical inspection and such equipment shall not be concealed until it has been inspected and approved by the electrical inspector, or until forty-eight (48) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, shall have elapsed from the time of such notification; provided that, on large installations where the concealment of equipment proceeds continuously, the licensed electrician installing the electrical equipment shall give the electrical inspector due notice, and inspection shall be made periodically during the progress of the work.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-94)
If, upon inspection, the installation is not found to be fully in conformity with the provisions of this code, the electrical inspector shall issue a notice of nonconformance and the licensed electrician making the installation shall be notified of the defects which have been found to exist. All defective work shall be corrected and brought into conformity with the provisions of this code before any further electrical work will be permitted within or on the building or premises and before the licensed electrician making the installation shall be issued any other permits to perform any other electrical work.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-95)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to conceal or place in operation any electrical equipment which has been disapproved or condemned by the building official unless and until the same has been so repaired or altered that it complies with all provisions of this code and has thereafter been approved by said building official.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-96)
The building official shall have the authority to require any person, firm or corporation to uncover any wiring or electrical equipment which has been concealed without the knowledge or permission of the building official.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-97)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to make connection from a supply of electricity or to supply electricity to any electrical equipment for the installation of which a permit is required, or which has been disconnected or ordered to be disconnected by the building official or (except for private residences) which has been disconnected for any reason whatsoever, until such connection has been authorized by the building official. In the event, however, that electricity to a private residence has been disconnected by reason of a fire on the premises, the electrical service shall not be reconnected until the electrical installations on the premises have been inspected and approved the building official.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-98)
The electricity supply agency shall disconnect the electrical service to any building and/or premises except private residences and duplex apartments each time such building or premises changes occupants, and it shall not again supply electricity to such buildings or premises until authorized to do so by the building official. The owners and/or the new occupants of such buildings and/or premises shall make application to the office of electrical inspection for an inspection, which shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, of the time such application is made or as soon thereafter as practicable. No charge shall be made nor fee collected for such inspections.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-99)
When an order or notice is issued pursuant to the provisions of this code to any person who, after a reasonable search, cannot be found, such order or notice may be served by posting it in a conspicuous place upon the premises occupied by such person or upon the premises where the defects are alleged to exist. The electrical inspector is hereby authorized to attach to electrical cabinets and equipment an official notice of seal to prevent use of electricity, and it shall be unlawful for any person to remove such seal, or to break, change, destroy, tear, mutilate, cover or otherwise deface or injure such official notice of seal posted by an electrical inspector.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-100)
Any electricity supply agency operating under a franchise granted by the city shall have the right to install and connect, or disconnect and remove, its meters and protective devices without a permit, but it shall not connect any electrical equipment to a source of supply without first having been authorized in writing to do so by the building official.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-101)
Any electricity supply agency operating under a franchise granted by the city shall supply all three-wire single-phase services with three-wire single-phase service drops to premises whereon electricity furnished by such organization is used, and shall when practicable furnish the type and size of service needed and requested, except that it shall not be required to furnish three-phase service unless such service is available in the vicinity and unless, in addition, there is a power demand of at least seven (7) horsepower, at least five (5) horsepower of which is three-phase.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-102)
Where meters originally installed in accessible places satisfactory to the electricity supply agency are rendered inaccessible thereafter by virtue of alterations or new construction by the owner of the premises or his agent, such meters shall be reinstalled in accordance with the provisions of this code at the expense of the owner.
(1995 Code, sec. 3-103)